Getting Cheeky: The New Face-Slimming Blush Idea

What’s the newest Hollywood beauty trick? Using nude blush shades to contour the face. Instead of the caked-on look, makeup artists like Jillian Dempsey, who created Kate Winslet’s stunning Oscar look, are creating a soft and subtle effect by dabbing on a cream stick product and blending right beneath the cheekbone. The resulting look slims the face and lifts cheekbones while keeping the focus on great eye makeup or bright lip color. And here’s a tip for you drugstore divas: Dempsey used Avon Be Blushed Cheek Color in Blushing Nude on Kate—a nifty little number that costs just $8!

The Perfect Pre-Spring Makeup

Salma Hayek knows how to work the season’s new neutrals: She used the same pinky-beige hue on her lips and her eyes. She loaded up on color from her lids to her brow bones and slicked on a lipstick in the same matte shade for a sweet—but not too beachy—blossoming effect that feels perfectly timed for the start of spring. My cheap try-it tip? Smudge a little of the lipstick on your lids and blend in with your fingers. While you’re at it, place some on the apples of your cheeks as blush, too. It doesn’t get any easier—or prettier—than this, ladies.

Celebrity Style Shortcuts: The Perfect On-the-Go Hairstyle

It’s no surprise that two of February’s best ‘dos were styled by none other than hair guru Ken Paves. Not only does he work with tons of A-listers (do Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson ring any bells?), but he has gazillions of style secrets, too. To re-create the Eva Mendes updo, Paves suggests spending some serious QT on your bangs. After washing, smooth them out with a round brush, let hair air dry, then add some volumizing spray to pouf it up before pulling it back. And if you’ve got a short crop like Victoria Beckham’s, Paves says a sleek side part—created by using a bit of gel just around the hairline—ups the glam factor instantly.

An Eyeliner to Love

When I caught up with celebrity makeup artist Cynde Watson backstage at the Dennis Basso show, she was working her magic with a chunky bronze/onyx pencil from Cynde’s own makeup collection that you can buy on HSN. Cynde told me she uses it all the time on her famous clients, like Holly Robinson Peete and Eva Amurri. I love it too. The sheer metallic hue lets the black peek through without looking harsh and gives you a sultry, layered lid effect. Just apply the black side first for definition and then layer the bronze side on top.

Celebrity Updos Made Easy

Here’s some breaking news for all you beauty buffs: Robert Vetica, the brain behind many of Hollywood’s best-tressed stars, just launched a new book called Good to Great Hair: Celebrity Hairstyling Techniques Made Simple, which reveals the tricks to many celeb hairstyles like Debra Messing’s gorge updos and Salma Hayek’s bodilicious waves. Also, two clever runway hairstylists, Kevin Ryan and Frank Rizzieri—who helped create the amazing styles at Jason Wu and Richard Chai—have started a company called Rsession Tools. Their new Pin-Up Girl Kit includes everything you need to create a celeb-tested ’60s updo, complete with a booklet of instructions, elastics, clips, brushes and a funny hair “doughnut” that hides under your locks to give your ‘do that sexy retro shape. Sounds strange, I know, but trust me, you’ve got to try it!

Scarlett Goes, Well, Scarlet

Best known for her blond bombshell look, Scarlett Johansson debuted a racy new hair hue during Milan Fashion Week. “Her new color has that ’40s glam feel to it, especially when it’s worn with a movie-star-red mouth,” says Michael Murphy, color director of NYC’s Salon Eiji. To get this “siren red” look, he suggests taking this photo to a colorist so there’s zero confusion as to the shade of red you want. And to keep this or any red looking fresh, Murphy says use cool or tepid water when you shampoo.

Eye Makeup That Sets the Mood

Charlize Theron’s gilded eye makeup glimmers in a soft, subtle way—almost as if she were basking in oh-so-flattering candlelight. To re-create her romantic look on your own eyes, use an antique gold shadow on lids and then continue using the color under the eye, dabbing on with a shadow brush (not a liner brush, as the line shouldn’t be too severe). To make any metallic shadow look like the glow comes from within the skin, celebrity makeup artist Autumn Moultrie suggests brushing translucent powder over lids to make the burnished style seem more lived-in and natural.

The Brand-New Bob

Heidi Klum debuted this cool ‘do at the premiere party for the new Victoria’s Secret “Perfect One.” What makes the flattering cut stand apart from the rest of the Hollywood hairbot bobs? Heid’s blunt ends are asymmetrical; her layers are a few inches longer in front than they are in the back. And the front pieces at the crown are slightly shorter, so they can be pushed to the side instead of lying flat and hiding her eyes. But don’t get too used to the new Heidi. Chances are she’ll say auf Wiedersehen to the fab bob sometime soon: “We’re playful and experimental with her hair but always want it to be chic, fresh and timeless,” Heidi’s Project Runway stylist, Helena Faccenda, told me recently. “The look we go for on Heidi can best be described in a few words: Variety. Fashion-forward. Trendsetting.”

Va-va-voom Hair

The latest must-have Hollywood body booster? No, it’s not a push-up bra or a derriere-lifter—it’s volumizing hair mousse! The ’80s big-hair staple is back, and to get the look, almost every star stylist I’ve talked to lately has started using the foaming product to thicken up strands before a blow-dry. Notice how thick and healthy Eva Mendes’ hair looks and how the strands lift at the root instead of lying flat? That’s thanks to the semimiraculous lifting and holding power of mousse. If you haven’t used the product in a while (or ever), give it a try. I like John Freida Luxurious Volume Bountiful Body Mousse.

Shine Can Be a Good Thing

I understand your fear of shine, but hey, there’s a big difference between a shiny face and a glowing beauty look—just ask the gorgeous Emily Blunt. Her forehead and cheeks and the tip of her nose seem to naturally reflect the light without looking—how shall I put this?—sweaty and gross. To get this look, try gently spritzing water over your makeup using a spray bottle. A little moisture will help make skin look dewy. Mineral foundation also creates this effect, or try dabbing highlighting cream on places where the light hits first—the brow, nose and cheekbones. The trick is to avoid having a shiny finish on the sides of your nose and under your eyes (aka the T-zone area); use a dry powder puff or blotting paper to degrease any pesky shine spots.

Spring’s It Eye Shadow

I’m not sure how it’s humanly possible, but Freida Pinto gets more and more gorgeous every time I see her. I’m swooning over her shimmery, natural-looking eye makeup. After a little sleuthing, I found out that Chanel’s latest eye palette, Lumiére Facettes Iridescent Effects Eyes Quadra Eyeshadow in Plein Soleil—a fantastic splurge if there ever was one—is the secret to her fresh new look. Chanel makeup artist Angela Levin applied the kit’s copper shade on the outside half of Freida’s lids, used the dark brown hue on the outer corners of her eyes and finished by using the light copper shadow as a liner under her lower lashes. Paired with black mascara, the delicate metallic eye makeup looks light and sexy—and since it’s a neutral palette, it can work with any outfit (especially classic black and white!). If you’re penny-pinching (and who isn’t these days?), try L’Oréal Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Single in Copper Penny, $4.25.

Back to Basics

Leave the bedazzled hairclips and fancy headbands in your drawer and opt for old-school hair accessories like brown tortoise barrettes and metal bobby pins instead. After all, if Reese can wear a super-simple (and super-cheap) bobby pin on the red carpet, you can totally work one for a big Friday night. In fact, you’d be considered quite fashionable, as the bobby-pin-accented ‘dos showed up at trendsetting fashion shows like Marchesa and Christian Dior. Hair pro Harry Josh, who styled the hair at Marchesa, told me, “There’s something about bobby pins that just feels right in this economy. It brings the hair down to earth a little.” A hairstyle that’s easy to create and costs about two cents to pull off? I’m sold! Scunci classic pins, $1.29.

Go Brunette or Bust

Natural brunettes, get ready to go back to your roots. As Brooke Shields demonstrates, there’s never been a better time to work the color you were born with. The actress recently traded in her bright highlights for deeper, longer-lasting copper tones that make her brunette hue look anything but boring brown. Since they are so close to her natural shade, she’ll need to redo them only two or three times a year. Don’t be afraid to DIY your dark hair color; deep brown shades like Brooke’s are easy to create with at-home hair color kits like L’Oréal Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Colour, $7.

Mood-Boosting Blush

When you’re feeling blue, reach for the pink! It’s not scientifically proven (yet), but I’m pretty sure there’s no speedier way to improve your mood than with bright pink blush. Just sitting in the compact, the shade may look like a scary leftover from the set of Dynasty, but as Piper Perabo’s pretty pink cheeks demonstrate, a liberal dosing of candy-color blush adds a happy flush to your face. Plus, it’ll cut your application time in half, as the brighter the cheek shade, the less makeup you need to wear on your eyes and lips. I’m currently wearing Make Up for EverSculpting Blush No. 8 in Satin Indian Pink, $24, and I also love Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Pink Frosting, $7.

The Trick to Nude Lips

To get the sexy nude lip look Emmy Rossum modeled at the premiere of her new movie, Dragonball Evolution, most of the celebrity and runway makeup artists I know recommend “whiting out” lips with either light foundation or MAC’s Lip Erase. The MAC product “erases” the natural hue in your lips so you can slick on any pale shade and get the true lip color. A very pale foundation or matte concealer, like Smoothers Concealer from CoverGirl ($6.25), also make a good base for spring’s nude lipsticks.

How to DIY Blair’s Headband

Blair Waldorf, Leighton Meester’s Gossip Girl character, would probably kick me off the steps for suggesting that anyone could DIY her super-luxe look, but I’m going for it anyway. After seeing a pic of Leighton wearing a glitzy gold headband for an upcoming episode of the show, I did some hunting at my local fabric store and found tons of gold ribbons, trims and cords that can be transformed easily into headbands (some for less than $2 a pop!). I love the idea of DIYing Leighton’s look with a fancy piece of fabric, but if, like Blair, you’ll wear only high-end designer finds, check out this Sailor’s Knot headband from Jennifer Behr, whose chic headband designs are often featured on the show.

Hollywood’s Cheap Hair Secret

Most Hollywood all-stars would never get an inexpensive haircut, but it seems like a blow-dry is another story! Rumor has it that Tori Spelling, Mischa Barton and the Olsen girls are just a few of the celebrity fans of the budget blow-dry at Fantastic Sams. The Beverly Hills branch (there are 1,400 Fantastic Sams salons nationwide) is right next to a popular 90210 nail salon, so stars have been piling in after their manis for a fast $30 hair fix. To try it out for yourself, see if there’s a salon near you or enter to win a Fantastic Sams gift card!

An Easy Way to Score Julia’s Waves

I’m so into Julia Roberts’ new hair: It looks like her old hair, only better. When Julia broke onto the scene in the late ’80s, she was known—and loved—for her bodacious curls. Today she still has sexy waves, but they look fresh and modern because they start farther down the head at ear level (all those harsh ’80s perms made curls start at the roots). If you’re feeling this natural-looking ‘do, ditch your curling iron and try this fuss-free wave-making technique from Aveda hair pro Pearson Knight: “Air-dry hair 90 percent, then comb a little spray gel or hairspray throughout your hair. Next, part your hair into four sections (part straight down middle, make two from forehead to ear and two in the back), then, section by section, loosely twist all the hair into a very loose bun (for a total of four mini-buns) and pin in place. Blow-dry or use a diffuser to heat and set the twists. Let cool, take buns down and finger-style some twists to give you those loose ‘Julia’ waves.”

New Tricks for Old Bangs

Lately, lots of celebs have been finding fun new ways to wear bangs. (Maybe they’re in a post-hairbot grow-out stage?) Rashida Jones swept her straight bangs to the side and left the rest of her hair wavy, while just last week at a red carpet premiere, Jordana Brewster wore her bangs straight down in the front while the rest of her hair was swept back into a tight ballerina bun. I love how these stars are treating their bangs almost like hair accessories: Just a few switcheroo style tricks on the bangs can create a whole new look. It’s great inspiration for any bang-wearing girl who wants a mini-makeover but doesn’t want to commit (or spend major moola) on a new cut.

An Eyeliner Trick to Love

If you’ve ever used black eyeliner all the way around your eyes—on the top, bottom and sides—you know that too much black can actually make your peepers look smaller. But here’s a trick to making dark eyeliner work: After lining the outer edge of the eye in an inky shade, switch to a lighter pearl or metallic liner to highlight the inner edge of the eye. (Not to get all scientific on you, but a good rule of thumb is to have two-thirds of your eye lined in black and one-third lined in the lighter hue.) This color combo creates a light V around the inner edge of the eye, which makes your eyes look bigger and brighter than ever. See how amazing it looks on Ginnifer Goodwin? If you’re ready to experiment, try a fab drugstore liner like Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Brushed Pewter.

Matchy-Matchy Makeup

Matching your eye makeup to your clothes might seem like a major ’80s makeup DON’T, but the trick to pulling off this retro-inspired trend is to take it easy on the color. Check out how tennis player Serena Williams sports a satiny pink blouse and wears a translucent wash of fuchsia on her eyes. The color combo is subtle, and the pink warms up her face instantly. Serena’s hue looks a lot like MAC’s Paint Pot in Artifact—a light, nonpowdery product that glides on easily and keeps its sexy sheen all day (or night!) long. To DIY this look, apply eyeshadow with a finger instead of a brush, starting at the base of the lid, then blending it upward toward the brows. Then dab a light layer of Vaseline on top for a shiny, colorful finish.

Hot New Hair-Color Alert: Redette

Looks like brunette celebs have been embracing their inner redhead lately. “Ever since the Golden Globes, a really strong red trend has emerged—even women who wouldn’t go red are introducing reds into their brunette hair,” says celebrity hair-color guru Jason Backe of New York’s Ted Gibson salon. “Now it’s less about the status bag or new piece of jewelry and more about how to make a statement with your hair.” It’s a fab idea in my book, since you “wear” your hair 24/7! If you’re not into the pricey hair-color scene, Backe recommends Clairol Natural Instincts, a semipermanent color kit that’ll give your brown hair what he describes as “a sparkle of red.” And the best part? It gradually washes out after about 26 shampoos, so there’ll be no roots to deal with when you’re done being a redette!

The Botox-like Ponytail

They say skirt lengths go up with the stock market, but how about ponytails? Tennis pro Anna Kournikova wore a high pony when she rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange last week, and shortly after, stocks rallied. While I doubt the market’s tiny jump can be attributed to Anna’s ‘do, the high ponytail definitely has uplifting effects: The sleek, pulled-back look gives your whole face a little lift—like Botox, except a lot cheaper. And less painful. And totally stress-free. Bonus: The ponytail can make your face seem a little leaner if you gently tease the front of the hair before you slick it back and secure.

Meow: Catty Beauty Is Back

Looking for a new in-between-seasons look? Try the ’50s cat eye. Lately, trendsetters like Nicole Richie have been swapping out major eye makeup in favor of simple black liner. To score this flirty look, draw a thickish line across the base of the lid and gently swoop up at the outer corners. (Hint: The tapered wing part shouldn’t extend past the end of your brow or go up farther than the top part of your lid when eyes are open.) And if you’re a klutz with liquid liner, try a kohl pencil like L’Oréal’s Le Kohl Pencil Smooth Defining Eyeliner in Carbon Black. It’s easy to smudge on—and take off.